Copying a File Path in macOS Finder for Terminal Use
When working with macOS, the need to copy a file path from Finder and use it in the Terminal is a common requirement for IT support professionals. Whether you are navigating through directories, executing commands, or troubleshooting issues, knowing how to efficiently copy a file path is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of copying a file path in macOS Finder and using it in the Terminal seamlessly.
Understanding the Importance of File Paths in macOS
Before delving into the specifics of copying file paths, it is crucial to understand the significance of file paths in macOS. A file path serves as the unique address that locates a file or directory within the file system. By copying a file path, you can directly reference a specific file or directory in the Terminal, enabling you to perform various operations with precision.
Step-by-Step Guide to Copying a File Path in macOS Finder
- Open Finder on your macOS device.
- Navigate to the file or directory for which you want to copy the path.
- Right-click on the file or directory while holding down the ‘Option’ key.
- Select the ‘Copy [filename] as Pathname’ option from the context menu.
- The file path will now be copied to your clipboard.
Using the Copied File Path in the Terminal
Once you have copied the file path in Finder, you can seamlessly use it in the Terminal for various purposes. Simply navigate to the Terminal window and paste the copied file path using the ‘Command + V’ shortcut. You can now use the file path to perform operations such as moving, copying, renaming, or deleting files directly from the Terminal.
Tips for Optimising File Path Usage in macOS
- Organise your files and directories in a logical structure to simplify file path referencing.
- Utilise aliases or symbolic links to create shortcuts for frequently accessed directories.
- Practice using relative file paths to enhance portability and flexibility in your commands.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of copying a file path in macOS Finder for terminal use is a valuable skill that can significantly streamline your workflow as an IT support professional. By following the step-by-step instructions outlined in this guide and implementing best practices for file path management, you can enhance your productivity and efficiency when working with macOS systems. Empower yourself with the knowledge and techniques shared in this article to elevate your IT support capabilities on macOS.

DrayTek Vigor 2962 2.5Gb Ethernet Dual-WAN Broadband Firewall Router, 200 VPN Tunnels, 20 VLANS, QOS, Remote Management, Load Balancing
High Performance Multi-WAN Router - The Vigor 2962 makes full use of FTTP Fibre Broadband at up to 2.2Gbps throughput for single or multi-WAN configurations. With Quality of Service, Firewall and Content Filtering.
Buy Now on Amazon
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK763S) , Mesh Router & 2 Extenders , Cover Every Room, Up To 6,000 Sq Ft , Improve WiFi Speeds up to 5.4 Gbps & 75 devices , Simple App Set Up
WiFI mesh coverage of up to 6,000 sq ft and up to 75 devices, With each satellite (sold separately) you can extend the range by up to 2,000 sq ft
Buy Now on Amazon
DrayTek Vigor 2865Lax-5G Ethernet Router, WiFi 6 AX3000 Wireless and 5G Failover, Integrated 5G Modem, 5+1 GbE LAN Ports with VLANs, VDSL
VDSL and Ethernet Load Balancer - Connect the Vigor 2865 to Superfast Fibre with the integrated VDSL modem. Use the Ethernet WAN with Cable and Ultrafast FTTP. Load Balance multiple connections to boost performance.
Buy Now on Amazon
TP-Link Archer BE550 Router WiFi 7 BE9300Mbps, Tri-Band WiFi Router, 2.5G Ports,USB Port,Maximized Coverage,VPN Router, Parental Control, HomeShield Security, Private IoT Network,Easy Setup,EasyMesh
Wi-Fi 7 Routers: With powerful Wi-Fi 7 performance, lightning-fast wired connections, and brand-new design
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-253A-4G 2 Bay NAS Enclosure with 4GB RAM - Black (GDPR Compliant)
NAS and iSCSI-SAN unified storage solution for server virtualization
Buy Now on Amazon
WD 16TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra 2-bay NAS - Network Attached Storage RAID, file sync, streaming, media server, with WD Red drives
Centralised network storage: Organise your entire media collection, photos and files in one central, network location
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DX517 5 Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Expansion Enclosure, Black
Online volume expansion
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-431XeU-8G 4 Bay Short-depth Rackmount NAS Enclosure with 10GbE SFP+ & 8GB RAM
The short depth design is suitable for installing in smaller racks or space-constrained locations
Buy Now on Amazon
Seagate 10 TB IronWolf NAS 3.5 Inch Hard Drive ST10000VN0008 (SATA 6 Gb/s/256 MB/7200 RPM)
Model Number: ST10000VN0008
Buy Now on Amazon
QNAP TS-673A-8G 6 Bay Desktop NAS Enclosure - 8GB RAM, AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz Processor - with 2.5GbE connectivity & supporting PCIe expansion
8GB DDR4 RAM (2 x SODIMM slots, max. 64GB, optional ECC RAM support)
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1621+ 48TB 6 Bay Desktop NAS Solution, installed with 6 x 8TB Western Digital Red Plus Drives
Accelerated Performance: 174% higher 4K random read IOPS and 76% faster sequential write speeds compared to its predecessor
Buy Now on Amazon
Synology DS1823xs+ 8 Bay NAS Desktop: High-Performance Storage Solution
Powerful Performance - Over 3,100/2,600 MB/s sequential read/write throughput and over 173,100/80,800 random read/write IOPS2 support heavier applications
Buy Now on Amazon